0x4447, LLC. a solid foundation
1.2.x

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We provide complimentary training sessions. For more information or to request assistance, please visit our training page.

Deploy the product

First, subscribe to the product on the AWS Marketplace, and then deploy this CloudFormation file.

Steps

A comprehensive list of steps to ensure a successful deployment:

  1. Verify you are in the correct AWS account.
  2. Ensure you are in the appropriate region.
  3. Subscribe to the product using the link provided above, and ensure not to launch the product from the AWS Marketplace.
  4. Confirm the product was not launched from the AWS Marketplace.
  5. Deploy the product using the CloudFormation template link provided above.
  6. Wait for the deployment to complete while continuing to review the remaining documentation.

Initial Startup

Expect a slight delay in the startup time of our product relative to launching an instance with a standard AMI. This occurs as our bespoke software configuration is applied to tailor the product to your needs, extending the initialization process by a few minutes.

Server Connection

Using SSM

All of our products are designed to support AWS Systems Manager (SSM) right out of the box. We strongly believe in security, and the fewer ports exposed to the public, the better. The SSM service provided by AWS perfectly aligns with this approach.

When you need to connect to an instance, opt for connecting through the Session Manager. Once you've gained access, execute the command sudo su ec2-user to switch to the user account where all of our tools are located. This ensures you have the appropriate permissions and access to the necessary resources. Additionally, you're encouraged to use the AWS Systems Manager service for secure and efficient management of your instances. This integrated service provides a unified interface for automated tasks and monitoring, further enhancing your operational security and efficiency.

Using SSH

This approach is also available to you. However, by default, we configure the Security Group to not expose port 22 to the public; it's set to be accessible only within the local subnet. If you need to access the server over the internet, you will need to change the Inbound rule accordingly. Once that is configured, you can access the instance using the ec2-user username and the SSH key you selected at deployment time.

Mount the Drives

WARNING 

Since September of 2021, Microsoft disabled the ability to mount Guest drives. To re-enable this feature, please click <a href="#enable-guest-drives-in-windows">here</a> for instructions on how to do so.

Once the server is operational, it must be integrated into the same network as our product. This integration can be achieved through various methods, such as using a VPN, positioning it within the same VPC subnet, among other connectivity strategies. The following sections provide comprehensive guidance on mounting the drive across the most widely used operating systems.s.

Windows 10

Follow these steps to mount the drive on Windows 10:

  1. Navigate to File Explorer.
  2. Right-click on "Network" located on the left pane.
  3. Choose "Map network drive...".
  4. In the dialog that appears, enter \\PARAM_SAMBA_LOCAL_IP in the "Folder" field, ensuring to include the backslashes.
  5. Select "Browse..." to view available drives.
  6. Choose the drive(s) you wish to access from the list and click "OK".
  7. Click "Finish" to complete the setup.
  8. Should a login prompt appear, type "guest" as the Username.

By following these instructions, you should be able to mount the drive on your Windows 10 system without issues.

MacOS 11.x

To mount the drive on macOS, follow these detailed steps:

  1. Launch Finder.
  2. Navigate to the menu, click on "Go", and then select "Connect to Server...".
  3. In the window that opens, enter the local IP address of the server.
  4. Click "Connect".
  5. If prompted, choose "Guest" for the login user type.
  6. The connection may require a few moments to establish. Upon completion, the Samba server should be visible on the left sidebar in Finder.

These instructions will assist you in successfully mounting the drive on your macOS system.

Ubuntu 20.x

To mount the drive on Ubuntu 20.x using cifs-utils, follow these steps:

  1. First, install the cifs-utils package with the command:

    sudo apt install cifs-utils

  2. Next, use the mount command to mount the drive. Replace 172.31.0.21 with your server's actual IP address and PARAM_ID_OF_THE_COLUMN with the specific ID of the volume you wish to mount:

    sudo mount -t cifs //172.31.0.21/vol-PARAM_ID_OF_THE_COLUMN /mnt/samba

  3. Change to the directory where the drive is mounted to access the files:

    cd /mnt/samba

This guide assumes the mount location is /mnt/samba, but you can modify this to any preferred directory.

By following these instructions, you should be able to successfully mount the drive on Ubuntu 20.x using the cifs-utils tool.

Advanced Details

Key Features

  • EBS Drive Integration: Ability to mount up to 25 EBS (Elastic Block Store) drives, enhancing storage flexibility and scalability.
  • LAN-like Accessibility: Drives can be configured to appear as if they are part of the local LAN, achieved through VPN use, facilitating seamless access and data sharing.
  • VPC Data Sharing: Enables straightforward sharing of data across instances within the same Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), promoting efficient collaboration and resource utilization.

Use Cases

The possibilities are vast, limited only by your creativity. Consider these scenarios:

  • VPC Server Data Sharing: Facilitate the exchange of data between servers within a VPC, streamlining operations and collaboration.
  • VPN Drive Mounting: Access mounted drives locally through a VPN connection, offering flexibility and secure remote access.
  • Remote Storage and Backup: Leverage remote storage solutions with easy backup capabilities, ensuring data is accessible worldwide.
  • EBS Drive Exploration: Browse and rediscover content within existing EBS drives in your account, potentially uncovering valuable or forgotten data.

How To

How To Change the Instance Type

Ensure your data is backed up regularly. A straightforward method includes:

  1. Navigate to the CloudFormation console.
  2. Select the stack you wish to update.
  3. Click the Update button.
  4. Proceed with the default option by clicking Next.
  5. On the Parameters page, select a new instance type from the dropdown menu.
  6. Continue clicking Next until the process concludes.

Wait for the stack update to complete.

F.A.Q

These are some of the common solutions to problems you may encounter:

Not authorized for images

My CloudFormation stack encountered a failure with the following error: API: ec2:RunInstances Not authorized for images:... in the Event tab.

Solution

Before using our CloudFormation file, please ensure that you accept the subscription from the AWS Marketplace.

The product is misbehaving

I followed all the instructions from the documentation.

Solution

Please verify if the values entered in the UserData section have been successfully passed to the instance itself.

sudo cat /var/lib/cloud/instance/user-data.txt

UserData seams ok

The UserData reached the instance, but the product is not behaving as expected.

Solution

Use the following command to check if there were any errors during the boot process.

sudo cat /var/log/messages | grep 0x4447

Enable Guest Drives in Windows

Solution

Since September of 2021 Microsoft released a change to Windows where they disable the ability to mount Guest drives. To roll back the change follow this official documentation on how to revert the changes.